• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Advertising
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • Speaking
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

How the Most Annoying Pet Peeves Inspire the Best Stories

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

I have a secret to share. Better listen closely, because I’ll only admit to this once.  The ghosts of authors past will haunt me in my nightmares if I dare to do this as it is. But you see, authors aren’t just hyper-creatives who crack open the rooms of their imaginations and allow you a glimpse inside.

Oh, no.

These books… they’re catharsis–that amazing thing that happens when some pet peeve gets under your skin and festers.  So, instead of eradicating said peeve, we welcome it into the inner sanctum of our imagination, offer it a place on the comfiest couch, and ask it to reveal its deepest secrets.

Secrets we then exploit to our hearts’ content.  And, well… for that catharsis thing.  And you know what?  That’s where we get our best stories.

Caveat: This post is purely speculation—my imaginings gone a little wild. Those pesky peeves are really good at that.

How the Most Annoying Pet Peeves Inspire the Best Stories

Note: links may be affiliate links which provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Jane Austen’s pet peeve: the idea that women must be emotional, melodramatic, irrational creatures.

So Rough a Course
For a fun speculation as to what happened to Anne’s sister, Elizabeth, I recommend this series! For more about it, check my review HERE.

I imagine a parlor—pretty papers on the wall, but not elegant. Just the kind of papers one would expect of a small, country manor. Miss Austen flings a book aside, dismayed and discouraged by the portrayal of women in books. “The last offered the image of a young lady with little sense and even less courage—inclined to the melodramatic and macabre. And this drivel…”

Her sister offers a comforting smile. “Write a better story, Jane.”

And so it begins. What began as a single satirical novel in the Gothic vein, grows into another as the second character refuses to share the stage with such a silly creature as that Catherine Moreland. “I’ll have to give Sophia her own story. Perhaps the wife of an Admiral. I imagine her with him on every journey, always eager to be by his side.”

“But would a woman find such accommodations agreeable, Jane? Are allowing your indignation too much rein?”

A smile forms as Jane scribbles a note to herself, speaking each word aloud as she does. “Have… someone… question… her… sin-cer-i-ty. She… then… asserts… ‘I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.’”

L. M. Montgomery’s pet peeve: when people leave the constructive out of criticism.

Anne of Green GablesThe page rustled as, weary and in desperate need of a cup of tea and a sandwich, Lucy turned the paper over to pull forward the next in a thick stack of pages to be edited. Chicken scratches over the surface of the page forced her eyes inward until they crossed.

“I’m as cross as my eyes! Is any word sufficiently grand for this editor? Is the difference between ‘alarming’ and ‘startling’ so very great that I must consider a change? Now if we compared say… languid with… foreboding….” (note… this is adapted from te movie.  Work with me here.)

Lucy swept the stack of papers from her desk and watched the delicious effects of gravity. Most landed on the floor with a satisfying thud—sliding a bit, of course, but rather intact. But the top layers caught a bit of air as they left the surface and floated to the floor in swoops and sweeps reminiscent of a kite in the wind.

“If those scratches were the words of a wife, or husband—a mother or grandmother—they’d have the encouraging effects of Rachel Lynde when riled. I do believe I’d just run away!”

She sat there, arms folded over her chest, pen abandoned on the desk. The rustle of skirts—it would be the new girl. “Mrs. Montgomery, ma’am?”

“Yes, Esther…” Despite every effort, the weariness she felt impregnated itself in both words.

“Oh, your work! I’ll—”

“Leave it, Esther. What did you need?”

This time Lucy’s met the girl’s gaze and she attempted a weak smile. Esther beamed a great, wide smile that seemed to engulf half her face. “It’s just those valancy things that go over the windows? One looks awful faded, ma’am, and the rain’ll be here before it dries…”

“Leave them off, then. I’ve been planning new ones, any—”

But mid-word, Lucy turned, pulled a new sheet of paper from the drawer, and began scribbling a line.

If it had not rained on a certain May morning, Valancy Stirling’s whole life would have been very different.”

Agatha Christie’s pet peeve: when husbands use the mental to cure the physical.

Hercule PoirotThe pen dropped onto the page, as Agatha stared at the insipid words with which she’d just soiled a perfectly innocent piece of paper. Across the room, a newspaper rustled. Without bothering to lower it, Archie Christie cleared his throat and said, “Trouble in paradise, darling?”

“I don’t believe that any rational human being is capable of penning a decent romantic scene when the body demands sustenance.”

“There are biscuits in the tin—and a cup of tea would brace me nicely, as well.”

I imagine it would. I, on the other hand, long for something a bit more substantial. Sausages, or perhaps a beef chop. Yes, that would do nicely.

“Agatha…?”

She set down her pen and moved to retrieve her purse and hat. “I believe I’ll pop on down to Bouchard’s. I’ve a fearful desire for beef.” She gave a scornful look at the blank page waiting for her return. “I’ll never be able to write a declaration worth reading if I don’t fortify myself first.”

“Nonsense.” But despite his protest, Archie stood as if to follow. “It hasn’t been long enough since breakfast for your mind to be weakened with hunger.”

It hasn’t been long enough since breakfast for you to begin your incessant nattering, either.

Aloud, she merely said, “Are you sure my irrational company won’t be too much of a bother…”

“Of course, not. And I do adore Bouchard’s Belgian cream puffs.”

You would think only of sweets. But by the base of the steps, poor Archie had transformed in her mind’s eye. His trim figure ballooned into the gentle swell of a man much accustomed to excellent fare. His bushy mustache thinned, twisted, curled. A certain fastidiousness formed, and in a fit of contrariness, Agatha decided he’d much prefer weak tea—very weak tea.

She paused, turned, and raced back up again. “I’ll catch up to you, darling. I just need to take down this idea of mine.”

For hours, her pen scratched across the page. First a character—then a name Poirot. “He’ll be fastidious—as much as certain other gentlemen of my acquaintance. And he’ll be excessively concerned with the shape of his food…”

As she added another line, Agatha reached for one of the biscuits that filled the little plate beside her.

What is all this with the pet peeves?

Well, as you’ve probably surmised, this week’s topic in my blog challenge was “My biggest pet peeve.” Yeah. I do try, desperately, to roust out all pet peeves and send them to rescue farms in the country where they may grow and flourish without raising my ire and… yeah. Whatever. I didn’t really think you wanted to hear all about how annoying it is when book covers don’t match the insides.

Seriously, though. No matter how amazing a cover is… if the book takes place in winter in a super cold place, don’t show me a girl in a sundress walking hand-in-hand with her fella on a street canopied by green leaves from the trees overhead. Not that I’ve ever had that happen to me.

I still haven’t left that review. As you can see, that’s probably a good thing. Well, that’s all I’ve got for you. Until next week and something about word count. Oh, that sounds scintillating. Woo.

Confession: I just glanced at the scrawl in my planner and seriously thought next week’s blog post prompt said, “How much do good covers matter.”  Ahem.  Maybe it’s bedtime.

Share212
Pin99
Tweet
Email
311Shares
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
311Shares

Related

Filed Under: Book Reviews, General Information

Previous Post: « Warning: Unintended Consequences Will Make You a POW
Next Post: Why “All You Need” Is Brilliant & Annoying »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Laura Hile says

    May 23, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    Chautona! I come over here, intrigued to learn more about your pet peeves — for they are the stuff of inspiration — and as I scroll along, what do I discover but … gasp … my Mercy’s Embrace book cover !!!

    Talk about a jaw dropper! Thanks for the props.

    Filling in white spaces, and reimagining an unexpected “what-if” direction for a story, are what we introverts love doing best.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 23, 2019 at 10:23 pm

      I think you did best what we do with pet peeves–taking a character that no one liked and making her sympathetic. THAT is brilliance, milady!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca Pittman says

    May 29, 2017 at 6:42 am

    Love the sentence “The pen dropped onto the page, as Agatha stared at the insipid words with which she’d just soiled a perfectly innocent piece of paper.” It’s great! And, yes. Book covers should match the story. That’s one of my pet peeves, too. I am hoping building my cover doesn’t take as long as writing my book… Just a question, did you mean to have “Until next week and something about word count. Oh, that sounds scintillating. Woo.” on there twice?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 29, 2017 at 7:09 am

      Thank you for pointing it out. Dad burn it! WordPress has new bug . When I highlight one, it tends to just copy it instead of highlight. Off to get rid of the extra!

      Reply
  3. Lucinda Culp says

    May 29, 2017 at 4:38 am

    Oh, you did it! You set the scene from my very favorite book of all time. I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how “The Blue Castle” was conceived.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 29, 2017 at 7:07 am

      I could just see it!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 234: A Chat about The Chosen Kids with RM Ruiz
byChautona Havig

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to help with whatever the family was doing, so Great Aunt Tissy gave you a stack of napkins and told you to put one at each plate? Remember how she commented on what a  “big girl” you were?  And then, as if that weren’t bad enough… remember how you were fourteen and a “big girl” was the last thing you wanted to be? 

RM Ruiz’ The Chosen Kids Saga does just the opposite. She has a cast of related characters who are given real work by God–important work. They’re pulling on the armor of God and doing real battle with real enemies of the Kingdom of God and all while He works out their sanctification. Listen in to where she got the idea and where the Chosen Kids are going next.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you!

What if God Decided to Use Ordinary Kids to Battle the Underworld?

Can I just say that I love the respect Rosemary shows her characters? These kids, as young as eleven, aren’t told to fold napkins and praised as if they saved the world. They’re given tools and assignments and do save the world… or at least a piece of it and with the real help of the Holy Spirit. How cool is that?

And she does it with a tortilla in one hand and some eye and mouth-watering chili stuffs in the other.

Oh… and don’t forget the research for Encounter at Paradise that sent her up a literal slippery slope into frozen tundra. In July. #BecauseResearch.

And the result is book two of the Chosen Kids Saga! (To listen to the first episode where we talked more about the first book, go HERE.)

The Chosen Kids: Encounter at Paradise by RM Ruiz

A thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers, showcasing the supernatural powers of God, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.This is the second book of The Chosen Kids Saga.The Chosen Kids are ready for their second mission!

It’s been two weeks since Caiden and his family’s summer of fun turned into a secret quest for God. After their first mission, the Chosen Kids step into their new roles without fear or reluctance. With revived faith and God’s blessed tools, they embark on their second hunt—ready to track, capture, and expel the enemy.

But the day turns into a tedious game of hide-and-seek as the family races to get ahead of the fiend. When the unthinkable happens, and their mission becomes personal, they must keep the faith and trust God’s plan. They could set things right with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but only if they obey His commands completely. Caiden thinks he’s uncovered the answer, but no one ever listens to the youngest cousin…

With nightfall quickly approaching, the Chosen Kids set a trap.

But if their plan fails, they could lose one of their most valuable assets, and their quest will end in heartbreak and disaster.

In this next chapter of the Chosen Kids Saga, readers will see the cousins in action as they take on their new roles with renewed spirits. Just like the first book, this fast-paced adventure includes family love, kid banter, and humor with even more adventure, danger, and spiritual growth!

This series mixes fantasy and adventure elements with transparent Christian themes for young believers who want a story that includes gospel truths without reading through symbolism.

Middle-grade readers will follow along as these flawed, relatable characters—still finding their way in Christ—embark on a life-transforming quest to save humanity. With family love, spiritual growth, kid banter, and humor all mixed in for a fun and exciting journey.

The adventure starts with Encounter at the Dunes and continues in Encounter at Paradise. Grab a copy of both to begin the redemptive journey today! Book three, Encounter At Ambrose, coming summer 2024.

Learn more about the series, the characters, and Rosemary at TheChosenKids.com

And the series she mentioned was The Son of Angels.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!

 

Episode 234: A Chat about The Chosen Kids with RM Ruiz
Episode 234: A Chat about The Chosen Kids with RM Ruiz
June 6, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 233: A Chat about In Feast or Famine with Mesu Andrews
June 2, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 232: A Chat with Janine Rosche
May 30, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
May 26, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 230: A Chat with Bryan Timothy Mitchell
May 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 229: A Chat about Murmur in the Mud Caves with Kathleen Denly
May 12, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 228: A Chat with Author Emilie Haney
May 9, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 227: A Chat about the New Jewels of Kalispell Series
May 5, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 226: A Chat with Archaeological Thriller Author, Doug Powell
May 2, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 225: A Chat with Dani Pettrey
April 28, 2023
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Check out the Sparrow Island novels. A tiny island with a lot of heart

independence islands series

Featured Books

A Ransomed Grete

A Ransomed Grete
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
A Ransomed Grete
Buy now!

Twice Sold Tales

Twice Sold Tales
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Twice Sold Tales
Buy now!

Under the Hibiscus

Under the Hibiscus
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Under the Hibiscus
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • What if God Decided to Use Ordinary Kids to Battle the Underworld?
  • Just What Is Your Idea of Fun? Battle of the Bikes!
  • What Do You Do When Freedom Adds a Strange Wife?

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
That's it!!! We are art collectors!!! That's it!!! We are art collectors!!!
Mom thinned the potatoes today, and look what was Mom thinned the potatoes today,  and look what was growing! Don't get many mushrooms here in the desert.  It happens,  but I can also count on one hand how often...
One of the most important lessons I learned as a y One of the most important lessons I learned as a young wife was that if you love what you have, contentment,  gratitude,  and joy come more easily... and vice versa. 
For years,  people have asked how I could stand to live in that "Itty bitty" house with one bathroom and all those kids. It was easy (most of the time) because I love my house. 
Every day I look up from my spot on the couch,  and my heart overflows with gratitude.  I love my old, worn, "Itty bitty" house.
What are you grateful for today?
#gratitude
I've been back for a few weeks, but between recov I've been back for a few weeks,  but between recovery and a trip down south, Chatelaine and Ewenice haven't been given a proper home until today. 
They are a bit homesick,  but that's probably the heat... and dryness... and lack of green. That's why I put them near the window and one of my Charlies. 
#HomeSweetHome
#TheShediffice
Three books, three months, twelve authors, untold Three books, three months, twelve authors, untold caught breaths, heart races, and dangers around every corner! 
The Summer Heat Series has twelve of your favorite romantic suspense authors in three volumes to ensure a summer full of heart-stopping moments!
@karitrumbo
@lisaphillipsbks
@caraputman
@sara.blackhard
@michelle_aleckson
@lynnshannonauthor
@rebecca_hemlock
@emiliehaney_author
@katyleeauthor
Jennifer Pierce
Liz Bradford
The link in my bio takes you to a link to all the bookness!
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomanticSuspense
#AmReading
#Preorder
#KindleUnlimited
Reposted from @headdeskliz <title>🤩 Not the wri Reposted from @headdeskliz <title>🤩 Not the writing news I planned to share, but I must say this is infinitely more exciting!!

I’m so honored to announce that Not by Sight … | Instagram</title>
Walked into the Shed-i-ffice today after nearly si Walked into the Shed-i-ffice today after nearly six weeks away and saw my curtains. Soooo dirty! Time for a wash. 
Reading The Middle Window while they air dry. 
What are you doing today? Any good books in your hands?
#AmReading 
#SpringHouseCleaning
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!